High-profile Chinese delegation to arrive in October

Beijing wants to bridge huge trade gap with Islamabad

KARACHI: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has made the Chinese government realise to bridge the huge trade gap between the two nations, which is in favour of Beijing.

China genuinely wanted to bridge the trade gap and establish a good trade balance. “As a step forward in this direction, a high-profile Chinese delegation, having many Pakistani products on their purchase list, is scheduled to arrive on October 8,” he informed the value-added textile sector representatives in a meeting at the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) office.



He added that on November 4, Pakistan’s delegation, led by him, would leave for Beijing to meet with the Chinese commerce minister and other authorities and discuss how to revisit the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

“We have already discussed the trade imbalance with the Chinese foreign minister during his recent visit to Islamabad and the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan,” he said, adding the PTI government would seek tariff concession on 330 items.

“The big gap in Pakistan-China trade is a serious issue and the PTI government is making efforts in this regard,” he said. “However, it will take some time.”



The adviser assured the business community that he would not negotiate anything with China on trade and investment without consultation with the business community through their representative trade bodies.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2018.

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